Knitting machine



Dec. 30, 1952 K. w. WICKARDT 2,623,371

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 law UuQ/MMJNVENTOR.

Dec. 30, 1952 K. w. WICKARDT 2,623,371

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2:

Illl'llllll m- ,auw Ahhkaw: INVENTOR.

Dec. 30, 1952 K. w. WICKARDT 2,523,371

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG .4.

Adam (Jim; AZMMJNVENTOR.

dim/my Dec. 30, 1952 V K. w. WICKARDT 2 KNITTING MACHINE 1 Filed June 12, 1950 '7 Sheets- Sheet 4 Kiw ,UM )wmcua INVENTOR.

IFWMS/ D 1952 K. w. WICKARDT ,62

KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1950 7 Sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Dec. 30, 1952 Filed June 1 2, 1950 K. w. WICKARDT 2,623,371.

KNITTING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Dec. 30, 1 952 KNITTING MACHINE KurtWilli Wickardt, Liverpool, England, assignor to Hosemaster Machine Company Limited, Liverpool, England, a British company Application June 12, 1950, Serial No. 167,517 In Great Britain December 8, 1948 20 Claims. 1

This invention relates to straight-bar knitting machines and is especially applicable to knitting machines of the Cotton type used in the manufactors of stockings, socks,. underwear, and other knitted garments. The invention is especially valuable in connection with straight-bar knitting machines of the Cotton type for the manufacture of ladies hosiery.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide mechanism which will substantially increase the production of garments from machines of the above type. In the past efiorts have been made to increase production on machines of this type by the following means:

(1) By increasing the speed of the machine and (2) By making provision permitting all hand operations of the machine operator to be carried out while the machine is running and giving production.

The increase in production which may be obtained by raising the speed of the machine is limited by the nature and weight of the mechanism of the machine, and also by the strength and nature of the yarns or threads being knitted. The raising of the speed of the machine, if carried beyond a certain safe point, leads to excessive breakages and rapid wear of the machine parts. It further becomes illusory because of the yarn being unable to stand the strain caused by knitting at an excessive speed so that frequent stoppages of the machine with loss of production are caused by frequent thread breakages. Thus, in-- creasing the speed of the machine above the safe limit will only cause the contrary result of giving a lower production. In certain of the more modern constructions of machines all hand operations are carried out while the machine is running and in connection with these machines therefore it is not possible to further increase production by this means.

On the prevailing Cotton types of machines the coulier shaft hasa solid connection. to the main camshaft and there is a fixed proportion of, for example, /3 to /3 between the time period of operation of the coulier motion and that of the actual working of the knitted loop (1. e. the combined movements of the needles, sinkers and knocking-over bits in the formation of the knitted loop) this proportion. remainin constant irrespective of the width of the knitted fabric being produced. When fabric is being produced across the full width of the needle-bar in each working section of the machine the aforesaid proportion can be and is employed without loss, but as soon working width of the needle bar and the. fabric 2 as the width of the knitted fabric is reduced to less than the width of the needle-bar, which it is to a great extent during the production of, say, a full fashioned stocking blank, there is an interval at the beginning of each coulier motion and another interval after each coulier motion has completed the laying of the thread across the and before the start of the working of the loop. These intervals of unproductive movement increase the more the width of the fabric is reduced below the width of the needle bar.

These intervals of unproductive movement in each course of knitting also cause a substantial loss of time and production, and in a machine having a needle bar width of say 15 inches, the loss will be: 22.0% when the actual knitted fabric is only 10 inches wide, and 26.6 when the actual knitted fabric is only 9 inches wide.

A further object of the present invention is to eliminate or substantially reduce such non-productive intervals and thereby substantially increase the production of the machine.

According to one feature of the present inven tion a straight bar knitting machine embodying a thread laying mechanism and a loop working mechanism is provided with driving means for said mechanisms enabling the ratio between the time period of operation of the thread laying mechanism per course and that of the loop working mechanism to be changed.

According to a further feature of the invention a straight bar knitting machine of the Cottionship between said mechanisms and said driv ing means to enable the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of a loop-working mecha-- nism per course to be changed.

According to a still further feature of the invention, in a straight bar knitting machine substantially of the Cotton type having a coulier mechanism, a loop-Working mechanism and driving means, a first operating connection between said driving means and said coulier mechanism and a second operating connection between said driving means and said loop-working mechanism, at least one of said connections including an adjusting device adapted to vary the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course.

The expression switch-over device" is to be understood as including mechanically operated clutches and electric switches. The mechanical clutches may be associated with and operated by the coulier and loop-working mechanisms or they may be associated both with coulier and loopworking mechanisms and operated at will by an external agency such as the patent shows.

In one embodiment of the present invention the ratio is changed automatically in dependence upon changes in the width of the fabric being knitted whilst in another embodiment the ratio is changed in steps after a number of changes in the width of the fabric being knitted have occurred.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type is provided with driving means enabling the travel of the coulier mechanism and the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop working mechanism to be changed, and with means to enable the loop forming mechanism to operate whilst the slurcock is within the range of the knitting head or section.

Thus in one embodiment of the invention means are provided for withdrawing the slurcocks from operative engagement with the sinkers after the sinking of the loops whilst in another embodiment means are provided to withdraw the sinker jacks out of their working position during operation of the loop working mechanism.

In one form of construction a common driving shaft may be clutched selectively to a draw cam forming part of the coulier mechanism so as to rotate it in either direction and to a camshaft forming part of the loop working mechanism. A reciprocatory cam bar governs the engagement and disengagement of said clutches and is so shaped that only one clutch can be engaged at any one time. Cam means are provided on the cam shaft to cause lineal displacement of the cam bar at the end of a loop working operation to cause disengagement of the clutch transmitting v the drive to the camshaft and causing engagev ment of a clutch for transmitting a drive to the draw cam in one or the other direction. Two adjustable stops are provided on the cam bar and their spacing is automatically adjusted on change of width of the fabric being knitted, and an abutment means on the slurcock bar is adapted for engagement with one or the other of the said stops towards the end of a slurcock bar movement to cause disengagement of the clutch driving the slurcock bar and engagement of the clutch driving the cam shaft.

In another arrangement of the invention there is provided an electric motor for driving the coulier mechanism and a separate electric motor for driving the loop working mechanism, switch means operated by the coulier mechanism for controlling the starting of the electric motor which drives the loop working mechanism and the stopping of the motor which drives the coulier mechanism, switch means operated by the loop working mechanism for controlling the starting of the electric motor which drives the coulier mechanism and the stopping of the motor which drives the loop working mechanism.

In a further arrangement of the invention a support shaft bears a succession of at least two draw cams of descending length and wherein means are provided for selectively engaging the slurcock bar with said draw cams. Individual gear connections are provided between a common drive shaft and said draw cams and of increasing gear ratio with descending length of associated draw cam, whilst a succession of crowned pinions is provided on the camshaft each corresponding to one of the draw cams and each having a concentric portion of like extent and a non-concentric portion of decreasing extent with decreasing length of associated draw cam; individual gear trains are provided between the drive shaft and the pinions of the camshaft and individual clutch means between the driving shaft and the gear trains are adapted to bring each of the gear trains selectively into operation each with its associated draw cam.

The invention will be further particularly described With reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, embodiments of the invention in the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through the principal thread laying and loop forming parts of a knitting machine of the Cotton type adapted for the production of full fashioned hose,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration showing the time record of the working of a number of knitting courses on the machine,

Fig. 3 shows the drive of the main camshaft and the associated coulier mechanism together with the control mechanism therefor in one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 4 illustrates further embodiment in which the relative operation of the main camshaft and the coulier mechanism is controlled electrically,

Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate, one form of mechanism for enabling the slurcocks of the machine to be moved forward and withdrawn at predetermined intervals during the operation of the coulier device,

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the driving arrangements for the coulier cams and the main knitting camshaft of another embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 11 is a diagram of a hose blank as manufactured on the machine of Fig. 10,

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 show diagrammatically the special gear wheels of Fig. 10 and their timing diagram,

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are part sectional side elevation of one form of sinker jack operating mechamsrn.

In Fig. 1 the needle baris indicated by a, the needles 0., the thread carrier 1), the sinkers c, the catchbar d, the striking jacks e and the slurcocks f. The rising and falling motion of the needle bar is effected by a bell crank lever g, pivoted on a shaft h and having a roller 2' at its lower extremity and engaging with a cam 7' rotated by the main camshaft lc. As is well known in connection with a knitting machine of this type, the thread carriers b and the slurcocks ,f are moved. lengthwise of the knitting section by drawcams which usually rotate and transmit their motion to either the slurcocks or the thread carriers directly or indirectly by wellknown lever mechanisms. Q

In existing machines the operative sector of the knitting cams indicated by the angle a: in Fig. 1,

which effects the loop knitting operations of the acaaevr needles a, usually takes up one third of the complete cam, whilst the remaining two thirds of the cam indicated by the angle y, has a con-centric surface. Whilst the roller 1' is in engagement with the said concentric surface the needles are held stationary and the coulier mechanism of the machine, operated by the draw cams, is carrying out the laying of the thread and the sinking of the loops in the wellknown manner. Referring to Fig. 2 row I indicates the relative periods of the coulier motion and the knitting motions when working five consecutive courses over the full width of the needle bar, which for example may be 15 inches. When, however, the width of the knitted blank is reduced in the wellknown manner so that the thread is being laid across a reduced width in the centre of the needle bar, say for example inches, there is a period after which the roller 2 moves from the line m to a position at which the laying of the thread is commenced and this movement takes up a time interval during which no productive work is carried out. In a similar manner there is a corresponding period. after the completion of the thread laying and loop sinking across the said reduced width and before the roller 2 arrives at the line y, immediately prior to the commencement of the loop knitting motion which also represents a nonproductive interval. These non-productive intervals are indicated by the blank spaces 2 in row II in Fig. 2 and the accumulated non-productive intervals over five consecutive knitted courses is shown by the blank space 2 at the end of row III in Fig. 2.

In a machine having inches width per knitting section, the time loss is 22.0% of the knitted course when the actual width of the fabric being knitted is reduced to 10 inches and is 26.6% when the fabric is reduced to 9 inches width. Thus it will readily be appreciated that if these nonproductive time intervals could be eliminated a substantial increase in production from the machine could be obtained without increasing the speed of operation of the machine.

The present invention provides a solution of the above problem.

In achieving this solution the drive of the coulier motion is no longer solidly connected to the main camshaft as is customary practise, but both the coulier shaft and the main camshaft Ic are driven independently in such a manner that the main camshaft is will be stationary while the coulier shaft is moving to effect the coulier motion and conversely the coulier shaft is held stationary while the main camshaft is moving to effect the loop knitting operation. It is possible for the draw cam of the coulier motion to be driven either to rotate or to oscillate. In the following description the drawcam will be described as oscillating during the production of each successive knitted course or row of stitches; and the main camshaft, instead of rotating continuously, is arranged to turn through 180 degrees during the working of each course and, owing to this method of working, the concentric parts of the normal knitting cams can be eliminated, and the cams will have two operative halves which will enable two courses of knitting to be produced with only one complete rotation of the main camshaft. Alternatively, the cam formations on the knitting cams may be spread around the full 360 degrees of the knitting cams and by this means sharp rises and falls in the cam formations can be avoided. It will be understood, however, in this alternative arrangement 6 1 that the main camshaft will be driven to complete one full rotation during the production of each knitted course.

Referring to Fig. 3 the motor drive I drives an intermediate shaft 2 on which is mounted a plurality of clutches, referred to in greater detail hereafter. The two bevel gears 3 and 4 are engaged with the bevel gear 6 which drives the coulier or draw cam l. A tooth wheel 5 is engaged with a tooth wheel 8 fixed on the main camshaft 9, thus transmitting rotation from the intermediate shaft 2 to the main camshaft 9.

The clutch Hi, When engaged, moves the draw cam in one direction, say, to the right, and by means of the roller i3 moves a rod l5 to the right. This movement is transmitted in the wellknown manner by means of a draw lever to drive the slurcock bar I? to the right. Clutches H and I2 are not engaged during this period so that the main camshaft 9 remains stationary. Prior to the slurcock reaching the edge of the fabric being knitted the lever 18 engages the bracket is of the cam-bar thus moving the said cam-bar 2i somewhat to the right and engaging and disengaging the clutches on the intermediate shaft 2 through ang1e-1evers engaging with the said cam-bar, Angle-lever Z5 disengages the clutch ill and thereby causes the draw cam l to remain stationary. At the same time the anglelever 28 engages the clutch l2 and the tooth wheel 5 transmits rotation to the tooth wheel 8 and the main camshaft 9. Prior to the camshaft completing its 18% degrees of rotation a drum cam 25 on the main camshaft 9 will move the cam-bar 2! still further to the right thus disengaging the clutch it through the angle-lever 28 and bringing the main camshaft 9 to rest. At the same time the angle-lever 2'2" will engage clutch H and cause the bevel gear 3 to drive the bevel gear 6 in the direction opposite to the arrow. Roller M will now move the rod l 5 to the left and, through the draw-lever it, will move the slurcock bar to the left until the lever it engages with the adjustable bracket 2% whereby the draw cam l is again brought to rest and the main camshaft 9 set in motion. The adjustable brackets I8 and 25 are adjustable by means of a screwed spindle driven from the well known narrowing mechanism of the machine, and this adjustment is effected while the loops are transferred during the narrowin courses and/or during any alteration of the position of the thread carrier stops by manual adjustment.

Fig. 4 illustrates a similar method of general operation controlled electrically. In this alternative method two separate electric motors are provided, one for the drive of the coulier or draw mechanism, and the other to drive the main camshaft, which effects the knitting of the loops. By means of switches as and Q9 the motors can be connected to the power supply line, the three.- phase leads of which are indicated by reference letters R, S and T in Fig. 4. The motor 54 drives, through tooth wheels 45 and t8, the main camshaft here marked ill. After the degree turn of this main camshaft a cam 48 engages a switch 49 to bring the motor 44 to rest and simultaneously start up the motor 223. Motor 28 rotates an intermediate shaft 3& and bevel gears 3| and 32 and thereby the draw cam 33 which through roller 34, rod 36 and lever S'l moves the slurcock bar 38 to the right. Prior to the slurcock reaching the edge of the fabric the lever 39 on the slurcock-bar engages with the bracket 4| connected to therod t2 Thereby the rod 42 is moved to the right and engages a switch 43 which brings the motor 29 for the coulier motion to a standstill and starts up motor M again to drive the main camshaft 47. The brackets 40 and II of the rod 42 are adjusted through a screwed spindle 50 from the narrowing mechanism of the machine as before.

It will be apparent to anyone conversant with the Cotton type of knitting machine that with the normal design of slurccck mechanism the slurcocks I cannot remain in the Width of the knitting head Whilst the s'inkers c Fig. 1, and the dividers, are withdrawn by the catch bar d during the working of the knitted stitches, and therefore, in this modification of the invention, incorporating a variably oscillating draw cam, the amount of variation of which is adjusted according to the width of fabric being knitted, and means for withdrawing the slurcocks i from engagement with the jacks e immediately after the sinking of the loops, must be provided. A convenient arrangement of such a mechanism will now be described with reference to Figs. to 9.

On the slurcock rail 5| slide in the well known manner the slurcock-boxes 52, which, by means of a tie-bar, corresponding to the slur-bars I1 and 38 in Figs. 3 and 4, are connected to each other and to the coulier drive. The slurcock-box 52 carries a plate-member 53 accommodated in a slide-Way in the slurcock-box at right angles to the slurcock-rail 5|. The plate-member 53 has at its forward end the slurcock f and at its rear end an adjustable screw 55 and a nut 55 for adjusting the slurcocks individually in the well known manner. Above the plate-member 53 is arranged in the same slide-way a second platemember 56-. The nut 55 for individually adjusting the slurcock f is accommodated in a slot 5? at the rear of the upper plate-member 55. A roller 58 mounted at the forward end of the upper plate-member 56 is caused to engage under the influence of springs 59 with a cam-member 60 secured to a slidably mounted bar III which is carried in brackets 62 on the slurcock-box 52. Fig. 5 shows the slurcock J projected forwardly by the cam 60, the rod GI having been moved to the right. Fig. 6 shows the slurcock retracted by the springs 59, the bar 5! having been moved to the left. It will be understood that when the slurcock J is in the position shown in Fig. 5 it will be operative to project the sinkers c forwardly in the well known manner to position and measure the thread between alternate pairs of needles a, but when the slurcock f is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 6, it will be in its inoperative position and although it is located within the width of the knitting head it will allow the sinkers c, the dividers and the jacks e to be withdrawn by the catch-bar d.

When working each knitted course of the fabric, the rod 5| at the commencement of the coulier motion has to be moved to the right, thereby moving the slurcocks f into their operative position. At the end of the coulier motion or thread laying, however the rod BI is moved to the left so that the slurcock is retracted in order that it may not obstruct the jack e, Fig. 1, when they are moved rearwardly by the catch-bar d.

The reciprocation of the rod 6i at required times is effected by the device illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. At the rear of the slurcock-rail 5i and parallel to it is mounted a rotatable shaft 63 having a longitudinal key-Way 53 and carries a sliding sleeve 64. The sleeve 64 is mounted on the shaft 63 to rotate with it, but by virtue of the key-way 63' and an engaging key 64 on the sleeve 64 it is permitted to slide lengthwise relatively to the said shaft 03. A ring 65 on the sleeve 54 engages with a notched plate 66 secured to the slurcock tie-bar I1, 38 so that the slurcocks tie-bar I! and sleeve fi l slide together in unison. A helical ring 61, engaging With a second notched plate secured to the rod 0| is formed or provided on the forward end of the sleeve 64 so that when durin its reciprocation on the shaft 63 the sleeve G l rotates with the shaft I53 a reduced relative reciprocation is imparted to the rod 5| to move the slurcocks J from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6. The shaft 63 is rotated at the required predetermined intervals through any convenient means from a cam on the main cam shaft is of the machine.

Referring to Fig. 10, a movably mounted shaft IOI, placed along the machine, is rotated by the' driving motor in the usual way. For driving the main camshaft I02 of the machine a number of toothed wheels, I03, IM, I05, are movably mounted on shaft IIII and are connected as desired to the shaft MI by couplings I06, I01, I08 and can be rotated with the latter. In gear with these toothed Wheels I 53, I04, I05 are pairs of wheels I09, I I0, I I I, which are rotatably mounted on levers H2, H3, H t. By means of these levers the pairs of wheels can swing around shaft IOI as a central point. On the main camshaft I02 toothed wheels H5, H5, H1, see also Figs. 12 to 14, are fixed and these are in gear with the pairs of wheels I99, III III. The Wheels H5, H6 are so shaped that parts H5 to H5 and H5 to H0 are circular, while parts II5 over II5 to H5 and H6 over IIIB to H5 are each half an ellipse. This also applies to any further wheels, while one of the wheels, for example wheel I I I, can be completely circular. Thus parts III to H1" and I I?" over I II" to I I'Iare then both circular. The circular shaped part is of the same length on all non-circular wheels. The pairs of Wheels I09, H0, II I are in gear with it during the formation of the loops. The elliptical parts are of various lengths, according to the time which is available for the coulier motion corresponding to the Width of fabric. By reason of being mounted on the swinging levers I I2, 'I I3, H4, the pairs of Wheels I09, H0, III can always follow the shape of the ellipse. In doing so they are held in gear with the toothed wheels I I5, Iifi, I II by spring mechanisms or by a compulsory guide. A number of cams lie, I20, I2I are movably mounted on a shaft III; of the machine. The number of these cams must be the same as the number of the toothed wheels H5, H6, H1. The cams are driven by the toothed Wheels I03, I06, I05 over pairs of wheels I22 and I23, I24 and I25, I20 and I21. In doing so the ratio is so predetermined that the cams execute exactly a half revolution to a full revolution of the main camshaft I02. In the cams H9, I253 and I2I are grooves I28, I29, I30 in which selected rollers I III, I II, I42 or other suitable means are introduced which operate the slurcock bar we either directly or through a usual arrangement of levers. The connection between the rollers H10, I iI, I42 and the cam grooves I28, I20, Isil can be effected and released as desired and this must take place at the same time as the in or out operation of the couplings I00, IIII, Hi3. It may be mentioned here that the cams need not necessarily be made as drums, as shown in Figure 10. Disc cams of the usual shape found in straight bar full fashioned hose machines can equally well be used, which would then be driven from the shaft IIJI by pairs of cone Wheels. The stroke of the grooves or the stroke of the disc cams must be so measured that during the time in which the main camshaft turns from H3 through II5 to N5, the slurcock has moved over the Width of the fabric.

The method of Working of the mechanism is that, first of all, coupling I38 is put in or closed and cam II 9 drives the slurcock. During the stitch formation the main camshaft turns from M5 to H5, Fig. 12, at a constant speed suitable for the stitch formation. During the draw period II5' the speed of the camshaft is gradually retarded and then quickened again owing to the elliptical shape of the gear H5. The relative proportions of the draw or coulier period D and the knitting period K during the formation of the first H part of the hose blank, Fig. 11, are shown at B in Fig. 12.

After the completion of portion H the coupling I68 is taken out or openedand coupling IU'I put in. At the same time the connection from cam I I9 to the slurcock bar is released, While the cam I28 drives the slurcock bar I43. Cam I20 is driven by gear I I6 attached to the main camshaft of the machine, which gear is shown in detail in Fig. 13. During the stitchformation the main camshaft turns from I I 6 to I I6" which angle equals II5' to H5" in Fig. 12. During the draw period IIB' the speed of the camshaft is gradually retarded and then accelerated again owing to the elliptical shape of part of gear H5. The time available for the draw period is shorter according to the circumference of part IIfi' of gear I I6 being smaller than the respective length of circumference of part I I5' of gear I I5. With a constant number of revolutions of the shaft IGI, the time made available for the stitch formation remains the same, but the time for the draw, however, is decreased in accordance with the smaller width of fabric H, Fig. 11. In the same way each of the several cam arrangements can be coupled to the shaft HM and so be brought in to drive the slurcock bar. If one of the gears, as for example gear III, is completely circular, the speed of the main camshaft is substantially the same during the stitch formation whilst the gear I II turns from I II to I IT as well as during the draw period during which the gear turns through part I II.

When working according to this invention, the slurcock remains within the section during the formation of the loops. Provision must therefore be made that the loop sinkers and dividers L S, Figs. 15 to 1'? can move backwards during the formation without their being hindered by the slurcock I44 being in the section. Any of the already known means can be used to this end. The arran ement described below can, however. also be used:

Fig. 15 shows a section through a part of the full fashioned hose machine showing the slurcoclr bar I43 with the slurcock I44. The jacks I3I are mounted in the jack head I32, with their upper ends near the corners of the sinkers L S.

Fig. 16, shows the same arrangement. When forming the loops the sinker is withdrawn into the position L S. As the sinker, in doing so, would strike the upper end of the jack I3I, and the rod I33 on which the jacks I3I are mounted, is moved into the position I33 and thu puts the jacks into position, so that room is made for the backward movement of the draw sinker.

Fig. 17 shows how. this movement when forming the loops can be controlled by the camshaft I02 through a cam I34, lever I35 with rod I36 and angle lever I31.

Embodiments of the present invention include selectively disconnectable driving means for the coulier and loop-working mechanisms. In Fig. 3 these are represented by the clutches II), II and 52, in Fig. 4 by the interconnected electric switches 43 and 49, whilst in Fig. 10 by the clutches I06, I81 and I08 which enable mechanisms providing different ratios to become operative.

The embodiments of the present invention include a driving means for the coulier mechanism and loop-working mechanism and a switch-over device to control the phase relationship between said mechanisms and the driving means.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the driving means is represented by the electric motor I; the switch-over device by the clutches III, I I, I2 and their associated levers, the cam bar 2|, the lever I8, the brackets I9, 20, the cam drum 25 and abutments 23, 24. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 the driving means is represented by the electricity supply and the switch-over device by the switches 43 and 49 and the associated lever 39 and brackets 43, 4I and the cam drum 48. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 10 the driving means is represented by the electric motor and the main shaft WI, and the switchover device by the clutches I06, I31, II!!! which select different ratio gear trains for driving the draw cams on the shaft I I8 and the loop-working mechanism from camshaft I02.

From another aspect of the present invention various embodiments include an .operating connection between driving mean and the coulier mechanism, an operating connection between the driving means and the loop-working mechanism, and an adjusting device included in at least one of the connections to vary the time ratio. In the arrangement of Fig. 3 the driving means is represented by the motor I; the first operating connection by the gear wheels 3, 4 and 6 and the clutches I0, II; the second operating connection by the gears 5, 8, and the clutch I2; and the adjusting device by the lever I8 and the brackets I9 and 20. In the arrangement of Fig. 4 the driving means is represented by the electricity supply; the first operating connection by the switches 43, 49, the motor 29 and the gears 3|, 32; the second operating connection by the switches 43, 43, the motor 44, nd the gears 45, 4t; and the adjusting device by the lever 39 and the brackets 40, M. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 10 the driving means is represented by the motor and the main shaft IIlI; the first operating connection by the gears I03, I26 and I21; Hid, I24 and I25; I85, I22 and I23; the second operating connection by the gears I03, I39 and III; I64, III] and H3; I05, III and H5; and the adjusting device by the clutches I66, III! and I08, and the.

gears forming the operating connections.

From a still further point of View two of the arrangements include an operating connection between a driving mechanism and the coulier mechanism and between the driving mechanism and the loop-working mechanism and a switchover device for the purpose of changing the ratio. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the driving mechanism is represented by the motor I and shaft 2; the operating connection between the driving mechanism and the coulier mechanism by the bevel gears 3, 4 and 6; the operating connection between the driving mechanism and the loop-working mechanism by the gears 5, 8, and

the camshaft 9;' and the switch-over device by the clutches I0, II, I2, the cam bar 2!, levers 26, 21, 28, lever I8 and brackets I9 and 20, cam drum 25 and abutments 23, 24. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 10 the driving mechanism is represented by the electric motor and the main shaft IN; the operating connection between the driving mechanism and the coulier mechanism by the shaft H8 and the operating connection between the driving mechanism and the loop-working mechanism by the camshaft I02, the shafts being driven respectively through gears I03, I20 and I21; I04, I24 and I25; I05, I22 and I23; and through gears I03, I09 and 1; I04, H and H6; I05, I II and II and the switch-over device by the clutches I00, I01, I08, which in this embodiment are included in both the operating connections.

I claim:

1. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type including a coulier mechanism and a loop working mechanism, drivingmeans for said mechanisms, an electric switch means operated by a coulier mechanism for in part controlling the drive to the loop working mechanism, and an electric switch means operated by the loop-working mechanism for in part controlling the drive to the coulier mechanism, whereby to enable the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop working mechanism to be changed.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type embodying a coulier mechanism and a loop working mechanism, an electric motor for driving the coulier mechanism, an electric motor for driving the loop working mechanism, switch means operated by the coulier mechanism for controlling the starting of the electric motor which drives the loop working mechanism and the stopping of that for the coulier mechanism and switch means operated by the loop working mechanism for controlling the starting of the electric motor which drives the coulier mechanism and the stopping of that for the loop working mechanism, whereby to enable the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop working mechanism to be changed.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type, a slurcock bar, a camshaft for driving the loop working mechanism, a main drive shaft, a draw cam, alternative clutches on the drive shaft for transmiting a drive to the cam in opposite directions, a clutch on the drive shaft for transmitting a drive to said camshaft, a reciprocable cam bar governing the engagement and disengagement of such clutches and shaped so that only one clutch can be engaged at any one time, cam means on the camshaft adapted to cause lineal displacement of said cam bar at the end of a loop working operation to cause disengagement of the clutch transmitting the drive to said camshaft and to cause engagement of one of said clutches for transmitting a drive to the draw cam, adjustable stops on said cam bar, means for automatically adjusting the spacing of such stops on change of width of fabric being knitted, and abutment means on said slurcock bar adapted for engagement with one or other of the said stops towards the end of a slurcock bar movement to cause dis-engagement of the clutch driving the slurcock bar and engagement of the clutch driving the camshaft.

4. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type, a slurcock bar, a cam for driving said slurcock bar, an electric motor for driving said oscillatable cam, a camshaft for driving the loop Working mechanism, an electric motor for driving said camshaft, a first electric switch in part controlling the motor for driving said cam and in part controlling the motor for driving the camshaft, a cam on the said camshaft controlling said electric switch, a second electric switch in part controllin the motor for driving the camshaft and in part controlling the motor for driving said cam, a member linearly displaceable in opposite directions for controlling last-mentioned switch, adjustable stops to the said member whose spacing can be adjusted upon changes in width of fabric being knitted, an abutment on the slurcock bar adapted for engagement with such stops to cause displacement of the member for actuation of the switch associated therewith.

5. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type, a slurcock bar, a camshaft for driving the loop working mechanism, a main drive shaft, a support shaft bearing a succession of at least two draw cams of descending length, means for selectively engaging the slurcock bar with said draw cams, individual gear connections between said drive shaft and said draw cams and having increasing gear ratio with descending length of associated draw cam, a succession of crowned pinions on said camshaft each of said pinions corresponding to one of said draw cams and each having a concentric portion of like extent and a non-concentric portion of decreasing extent with decreasing length of associated draw cam, individual gear trains between said driving shaft and said pinions on the camshaft, and individual clutch means between the drivin shaft and the said gear trains adapted to bring said gear trains selectively into operation each with its associated draw cam.

6. In a straight bar knitting machine according to claim 3, means for withdrawin the slurcocks from operative engagement with the sinkers immediately after the sinking of loops in a course. 7

'7. In a straight bar knitting machine according to claim 3, a slurcock rail, slurcock boxes reciprocally mounted on the slurcock rail, a slurbar for imparting reciprocal motion to said slurcock boxes, a slurcock in each of said slurcock boxes and adapted for limited transverse motion of said slurcock, a bar adapted to restrain said transverse motion and reciprocable with said slur-bar, and means to bring about movement of said bar relatively to said slur-bar in order to withdraw the slurcock from operative engagement with sinkers after the sinking of the loops in a course. 7

8. In a straight bar knitting machine according to claim 3, and means to withdraw the sinker jacks out of their working position during operation of the loop working mechanism to permit withdrawal of the sinkers whilst the slurcock is in position within the range of the knitting head or section.

9. In a straight bar knitting machine according to claim 3, at least one slurcock, a plurality of sinker jacks, at least one jack-head, means for pivotally mounting the jacks in the jack-heads; means for displacing said pivotal means in order to permit withdrawal of the sinkers whilst the slurcock is in position within range of the knitting head or section.

10. In a straight bar knitting machine substantially of the Cotton typeembodying a coulier mechanism and a loop-working mechanism, at least one driving mechanism for said coulier and loop-working mechanisms including a device enabling the ratio between the time period of 01* eration of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course to be changed so that when knitting narrower courses the time to lay and work a course may be reduced without substantially altering the speed of the coulier mechanism or the speed of the loop-working mechanism.

11. In a straight bar knitting machine substantially of the Cotton type embodying a coulier mechanism and a loop-working mechanism, se lectively disconnectable driving means for said coulier and loop-working mechanisms to enable the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course to be changed.

12. In a straight bar knitting machine sub stantially of the Cotton type embodying a coulier mechanism, a loop-working mechanism and a driving means for said mechanisms, a switchover device adapted to control the phase relationship between said mechanisms and said driving means to enable the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course to be changed.

13. In a straight bar knitting machine substantially of the Cotton type having a coulier mechanism, a loop-working mechanism and driving means, a first operating connection between said driving means and said coulier mechanism and a second operating connection between said driving means and said loop-working mechanism, at least one of said connections including an adjusting device adapted to vary the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mech anism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course.

14. In a straight bar knitting machine substantially of the Cotton type embodying a coulier mechanism and a loop-working mechanism, at least one driving mechanism for said coulier and loop-working mechanisms, an operating connection between said driving mechanism and said coulier mechanism and a second operating connection between said driving mechanism and said loop-working mechanism, at least one of said connections including a switch-over device adapted to change the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course.

15. In a straight bar knitting machine substantially of the Cotton type having a coulier mechanism, a loop-working mechanism and driving means for said coulier mechanism and loopworking mechanism, a first operating connection between said driving means and said coulier mechanism and a second operating connection between said driving means and said loop-working mechanism, a switch-over device associated with said connections to enable said coulier mechanism and loop-working mechanism to be operatively alternately and an adjusting device associated with said switch-over device and adapted to vary the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course.

16. A straight bar knitting machine substan tially of the Cotton type having a coulier mechanism, a loop-working mechanism and driving means for said coulier mechanism and loopworking mechanism, a first operating connection between said driving means and said coulier mechanism and including a first electric motor, a second operating connection between said driving means and said loop-working mechanism and including a second electrode motor, a switch-over device in at least one of said connections controlling the phase relationship between said motors and said driving means and enabling said mechanisms to be brought into operation alternately, at least one of said connections including an adjusting device adapted to vary the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course.

1'7. In a straight bar knitting machine of the Cotton type having a coulier mechanism, a loop-working mechanism and driving means for said coulier and loop-working mechanisms, a first operating connection between said driving means and said coulier mechanism and an associated connection between said driving means and said loop-working mechanism, said operating connections having a given time period ratio between the coulier mechanism and the loopworking mechanism, and at least one additional operating connection between said driving means and said coulier mechanism and an associated operating connection between said driving means and said loop-working mechanism having a different time period ratio, and means to selectively connect one of said operating connections to enable the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course to be varied.

18. In a straight bar knitting machine substantially of the Cotton type having a coulier mechanism, a loop-working mechanism and driving means for said mechanisms, a first device associated with and operated by said coulier mechanism for terminating the operation of the coulier mechanism and including the operation of said loop-working mechanism and a second device associated with and operated by said loop-workmechanism for terminating the operation oi the loop-working mechanism and initiating the operation of said coulier mechanism, said first device including an adjusting device adapted to vary the ratio between the time period of operation of the coulier mechanism per course and that of the loop-working mechanism per course.

19. In a straight bar knitting machine according to claim 4, a slurcock rail, slurcock boxes reciprocally mounted on the slurcock rail, a slur-bar for imparting reciprocal motion to said slurcock boxes, a slurcock in each of said slurcock boxes and adapted for limited transverse motion of said slurcock, a bar adapted to restrain said transverse motion and reciprocable with said slur-har, and means to bring about movement of said bar relatively to said slur-bar in order to withdraw the slurcock from operative engagement with sinkers after the sinking of the loops in a course.

20. In a straight bar knitting machine according to claim 5, at least one slurcock, a plurality of sinker jacks, at least one jack-head, means for pivotally mounting the jacks in the jack-heads, means for displacing said pivotal means in order to permit withdrawal of the '15 sinkers whilst the slurcock is in position within Number range of the knitting head or section. 2,222,918 KURT WILLI WICKARDT. 2,285,240 9 2,571,314 REFERENCES CITED 5 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: Number 554,075 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10 1,719,839 Hilscher July 9, 1929' Name Date Tesse Nov. 26, 1940 Tuehscherer June 2, 1942 Vaclavik Oct. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 18, 1943 

